Montpelier Community Justice Center

Restoring relations that have been damaged by conflict or crime

"The Montpelier Community Justice Center truly embodies the restorative spirit and serves as an admirable example for others of how a community can form collaborative partnerships to successfully address crime and conflict."

-- Hans Johnson, Vermont Department of Corrections

The Montpelier Community Justice Center improves community health and safety by helping people whose lives are disrupted by conflict or crime. We recognize the potential for citizens to live in harmony with their neighbors and contribute to the civility and well-being of the community.

To help people respond to destructive behavior in constructive ways, we provide programs and services that

Give people directly affected by a crime a forum to talk about their experience, articulate their needs, and receive support from their community

"I found peace with the incident and all involved."

Provide a way for people responsible for a crime to make amends and build a positive connection with their community

"The Rep Board taught me how to be accountable for my actions and to not just consider those that I immediately affected. This was a great chance for me to make amends."

Facilitate problem-solving conversations

"I rolled with the punches and hung in there . . . and various solutions were explored, discarded, or refined ... . It did not cost me anything except time and I believe it was time well spent."

Act as a go-between for people in conflict and provide support to help them work through their disputes

"(The meetings) provided a professional third party who was objective and not motivated by personal interests. The Community Justice Center ... balances the problems that can result from the domination of issues by 'the strong versus the weak'."

Teach people skills to resolve conflict peacefully.

"I liked this training because it gave me some tools [to deal with conflict] and a better understanding of things that escalate conflict."